Office of Supervisor Dennis Rodoni

On January 8, 2025, the Point Reyes National Seashore announced a revised Record of Decision (ROD) and Settlement Agreement (Settlement) to litigation filed by environmental groups in 2021 challenging the Seashore’s General Management Plan Amendment that has significant impacts on our West Marin workforce, local food production, and housing. The signatories to the settlement agreement are the NPS, park ranchers who participated in the mediation, the Point Reyes Seashore Ranchers Association, The Nature Conservancy, Resource Renewal Institute, Center for Biological Diversity, and Western Watersheds Project.

According to the Settlement and information shared by the National Park Service, eleven ranching families agreed to receive compensation in exchange of ceasing operations over a 15-month timeline. Financial details of the Settlement have not been shared but have been reported by local media in the amount of $40 million and an additional fund of $2.5 million for ranch workers and community members who reside on the closing ranches. Nine beef operations will remain in West Marin, seven in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area received 20-year leases and some of those have opportunities for farm stands, diversification, and overnight camping options. Two ranches in Point Reyes National Seashore, are still negotiating long-term lease agreements. Seasonal grazing will continue in Point Reyes National Seashore in coordination with the Nature Conservancy.

LOCAL IMPACT

The impacts to West Marin are far reaching and will require a coordinated rapid response by the County to provide services and resources to displaced neighbors and friends.

Given that all parties agreed to the settlement and that ranchers will receive reported millions of dollars in compensation, my office is committed to supporting the ranch workers and displaced community members. I am deeply concerned about the impact of this decision on our schools, workforce, housing, and local economy.

OVERVIEW OF INITIAL COUNTY RESPONSE

The County is mobilized and dedicating resources and staff to establish a cross-department emergency response team who will identify and implement short, medium, and long-term strategies to support ranch workers, displaced community members, Marin’s local food production, and the overall economic and community vitality in partnership with community partners.

This will be accomplished by supporting programs and policies for production of housing and accessing existing vacant housing for conversion to residential housing, working with CLAM and partners to overcome bureaucratic and financial barriers impeding the Coast Guard Housing construction, providing workforce and job resources, ensuring financial compensation for workers and displaced community members, and supporting the production of local food. This work is happening in partnership with our local nonprofits, like West Marin Community Services, West Marin Fund, and CLAM to ensure a comprehensive rapid response.

Develop Housing Opportunities for Ranch Workers and Displaced Community Members:

The Board of Supervisors will consider a Shelter Crisis Resolution in March 2025. This will provide opportunities to access additional funding and strategically develop temporary housing for displaced workers and other displaced community members from agricultural lands.
We are collaborating with the West Marin Fund and CLAM supporting programs to access existing housing units and create pathways for neighbors with second units, spare rooms, or ability to develop accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to provide housing to support friends and neighbors in need of housing.
We will hire a coordinator/expert to modernize residential wastewater (septic) regulations that meet Regional Water Quality Control Board requirements and allow for development of ADUs.
Continue Community Land Trust project support to meet critical housing needs across West Marin, including the Coast Guard Housing project, through expedited permitting, fundraising, and multi-agency coordination.
Work with the National Park Service and Congressman Huffman’s office to identify potential housing opportunities on eligible public lands with existing housing infrastructure for displaced community members.

Provide Financial Resources for Ranch Workers and Displaced Community Members:

Contribute significantly to the $2.5 million dollar ranch worker and tenant displacement fund managed by the Nature Conservancy.
Partner with West Marin Community Services to assist with distribution of funds and offer necessary assistance for displaced workers and tenants.

Offer Career and Job Support Services for Ranch Workers and Displaced Community Members:

Work with community partners to listen to the needs of the ranch workers for assistance in career services and support.
Coordinate a Rapid Response workforce network to bring resources to West Marin to provide affected workers with information and resources on regional employment openings, opportunities to access funding and scholarships to transition to new careers if desired (examples: firefighting, public service, electricians, contractors, HVAC, etc.), host job fairs, and other opportunities.
Address transportation challenges for affected workforce through review of public transport and partnership programs to provide access to vehicles and coordinating local donations and assistance.

Support Marin’s Local Food Systems and Production:

In partnership with Congressman Huffman’s office, work to ensure Marin’s local food system, including the possibility of transferring interested dairy operations from the Point Reyes National Seashore to Marin or Sonoma counties. Congressman Huffman helped to secure $1 million in federal funds to support North Bay dairies for this purpose, the County submitted a $10 million budget request for the Future of North Bay Agriculture, and is working to support ranch workers and tenants during the transition.
Partner with local agricultural organizations, like Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT) and Agricultural Institute of Marin (AIM) to provide information, resources, and support to protect our local food supply and production.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

We all have a role in solving the housing crisis in West Marin.

Support organizations serving the affected community members at the West Marin Community Services, CLAM, West Marin Fund, and Circulo de Esperanza Latina.

The County of Marin, Marin Community Foundation, and West Marin Fund commissioned the Growing Together: Advancing Housing Solutions for Workers in West Marin study to shed light on the housing needs of agricultural workers and other lower-income households in the region. This report, released in Fall 2024, provides essential insights into the existing housing conditions, challenges, and opportunities for change. It’s a call for all of us—community members, organizations, and leaders—to come together and be part of the solution.
Convert your Short-Term Rental or Vacation Rental into a residential rental to support local community members in need of housing and contact CLAM.

Thank you to everyone who one year ago (January 2024) supported regulations on Short-Term Rentals to ensure residential housing in unincorporated Marin is for our residential community. CLAM is identifying housing opportunities for West Marin residents facing displacement. If you have a unit available for rent or you are interested in adding a rental unit to your property, complete this short survey and CLAM will contact you.
Support the Shelter Crisis Resolution by the Board of Supervisors and other policies and programs to modernize regulations to provide dignified and affordable housing opportunities in West Marin.

This is a moment for the community in partnership with local government to demonstrate our dedication to vulnerable community members and to support our local agricultural economy. I am committed to the creation of community-needed housing, supporting our local economy, and ensuring ranch workers and displaced community members are compensated and have options to remain in West Marin.

Let us move forward together with determination and compassion to support those most affected by the Settlement to protect our schools, workforce, agricultural heritage, and residential communities.

RESOURCES

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